When it comes to technology, the more you know, the better off you are. In fact, our security is so much compromised, that not knowing things can seriously affect one’s safety online. When talking about technology, you cannot discount your mobile phone. It is the most personal device you probably own, and it holds a great blueprint of who you are.

Smartphones these days come with a whole bunch of preinstalled apps. Knowing how these mobile apps are developed and how much control you can have if you learn the ABCs of developing mobile apps, really sells the idea of mobile app development really well.

What is mobile app development?

App development or mobile app development, in this case, refers to the writing out and creating a software for devices such as your smartphone or a tablet. Some applications are written natively to certain devices. This means that it uses specific features for one kind of device to function and cannot work on another device. However, other device apps are more general and can be used in any number of devices that share a common feature.

For example, if an app uses your device’s location to work, it will be competent with any smartphone, because all of them come with a GPS-tracking feature.

Applications can also be browser-based. This means that they will run across different software systems, which isn’t the case with software-based apps, which can run on any device.

However, mobile app developers pay a hefty price for developing software-based apps because they cannot reuse the code for that particular app over again. This means that the code used for one operating system (OS) cannot be translated to another. An iPhone app and an Android app may do the same job but will require completely different codes. A Windows operating system requires yet another.

Can you develop your own apps?

You’ll find many mobile apps ready for download and use, on the online store available through your device upon access to the Internet. Each OS today works from a different online store, such as the Play Store for Android and App Store in iPhone. Some of these apps enable you to create your own apps; so a lot of the work has already been done.

But in the case of businesses, you’ll find that it’s best to build an app from scratch in-house. This is because not only do you have much more freedom, but it also allows you immense control over what the app does and delivers, making it a novelty for customers.

Things to keep in mind

• Here are a few things you must keep in mind when developing apps or considering the same:
• Figure out the needs of the users and how they can be met in the most efficient manner. This must be in sync with what your developers and creators are actually able to build. The line between what is needed and what can be achieved must be met.
• Also, decide what system you would want your app to work on. You can use any of the existing systems that exist among the general public or have to whip one up from scratch.
• Finally, don’t sideline cost. You’re going to want to know how much money you’re willing to spend for the final app. Once it’s developed, that isn’t the end. The mobile requires constant monitoring and implementing the feedback you get from the customers.

Build a hybrid app

This answers the question of “Do I want a native app or a web-based one?” A hybrid app combines the good of both those platforms in a way that gives you an all-round app. The best part obviously is that it takes away the pressure of developing different app software for the same app to run on different platforms. Not doing so can rob you of valuable customers.
But it isn’t like developing a hybrid mobile app is all fun and games. This kind of mobile app is developed in an HTML5 or JavaScript format. Not all mobile web browsers fully support these formats; so you’ll have a sketchy app at the most. But constant vigilance and development, coupled with constructive feedback and criticism from customers, can make it smoother.
If you’ve made up your mind about HTML5, then it’s a simple step. The entire app is then edited slightly for different mobile browsers. This edit is what makes it a hybrid app. It’s called a native device wrapper. The app then runs under this edit and uses the browser engine of the device it’s running on. The data is processed locally. To run it on a different system, simply wrap on another native device wrapper and you’re good to go.